Firefighters from Wellsville pulled three people from the Genesee River to safety on Sunday afternoon as seven people were taken to the hospital after being in the cold water.

Fire officials said the seven, including a woman and two children who were in the water and standing on a large rock in the middle of the Genesee River in cold water, were all treated or checked and released from Jones Memorial Hospital.

The area in which they were swimming is between the state Route 19 four-lane and Chamberlain Street, where there is a small, man-made waterfall as well as rocks that can be walked on. The popular, unofficial swimming area does drop down at least 15 feet and with the current, the woman and children said they were too tired to attempt the swim back.

Firefighters Billy Day III, Chris Martelle and Stephen Kear went into the water with life jackets and ropes from the Chamberlain Street side.

A woman out walking with her dog saw the three on the rock before fire and ambulance arrived and she went out to help. The children were afraid to go with a stranger and she went back to shore on her own power with the dog. The woman was waist-high in water.